Apparatus for simultaneously scrubbing the roof and walls of a transit bus



March 31, 1959 R. L. PIPER APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY SCRUBBING THE ROOF AND WALLS OF A TRANSIT BUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 28, 1956 INVENTOR. 05587 4 P/PEZ R. L. PIPER Marh 31, 1959 APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY SCRUBBING THE ROOF AND WALLS OF A TRANSIT BUS Filed Sept. 28, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOE/VE Y5 ymg R. L. PIPER IMU March 31, 1959 2,879,529 APPARATUS FOR s LTANEOUSLY SCRUBBING THE ROOF AND WALLS OF A TRANSIT BUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 28, 1956 nited States APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY SCRUBBING THE ROOF AND WALLS F A TRANSIT BUS This invention relates to motor vehicle washing appa- I ratus, and more particularly to a scrubbing apparatus for a transit bus.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved washing apparatus for a transit vehicle, said apparatus being relatively simple in construction, being easy to operate, and requiring the attention of only a single attendant.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved washing apparatus for a transit bus, said apparatus involving inexpensive components, being durable in construction, and providing an efiicient scrubbing action on all the major surfaces of a transit bus, or similar vehicle, without damaging said surfaces.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an improved washing apparatus for a transit vehicle, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a substantially horizontal cross sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure '1.

Referring to the drawings, the improved transit vehicle scrubbing apparatus is designated generally at 11 and comprises a frame having a pair of parallel, channelshaped base bars 12, 12 secured tothe floor or other supporting surface of the enclosure in which the operation is to be carried out, or secured to a suitable horizontal base, if the scrubbing operation is to be carried out outdoors, as by bracket members, shown at 13, 14, and 15.

The base bars 12 are installed in parallel relationship and are spaced apart to receive a transit vehicle therebetween, such as a transit bus 16, shown in dotted view in Figure 1.

Designated at 18, 18 are a pair of parallel, channelshaped top bars which are suitably secured to supporting means above the frame, not shown, in parallel relationship to the base bars 12 and spaced vertically above said base bars in the manner illustrated in Figure 1 so that the vehicle may be received thereunder.

A first brush means is movably mounted along the frame for longitudinal movement thereon. Specifically, a transversely extending carriage member 19 is slidably supported on the top flanges of the top bars 18, as by vertically spaced pairs of rollers 20, 20 secured to the legs 21 and 22 of the carriage member 19, said legs extending outwardly adjacent the edges of the top flanges of the top bars 18, and as shown in Figure 4, and the rollers being journaled to said legs and extending inwardly therefrom to engage the top and bottom surfaces of the top flanges of said top bars 18. The .carriage atent member 19 is provided with the depending, V-shaped brackets 22, 22 extending inwardly adjacent the top bars 18, 18 as shown in Figure 4, and journaled on the lower end portions of said brackets 22 is a transverse shaft 23 on which is mounted a rotary, transversely extending brush 24. The brush 24 is contoured to closely engage the roof surface of a transit vehicle 16, as is readily apparent from Figure 4, wherein the brush 24 is shown to have a concave shape.

Mounted on the carriage member 19 is an electric motor 25 whose shaft is coupled by a sprocket chain 26 to a sprocket wheel 27 mounted on shaft 23 whereby motor 25 is drivingly coupled to the shaft 23 and rotates the brush 24. Brush 24 is rotated at a speed substantially less than the speed of the shaft ofmotor 25, since a speed reduction is provided between the sprocket wheel 27 and the much smaller sprocket wheel 28 mounted on the shaft of motor 25 and coupled to sprocket wheel 27 by the sprocket chain 26, as shown in Figure 4.

Slidably supported on the top flanges of the base bars 12 are respective guide members 29, 29 said guide members being provided with the inwardly directed rollers 30, 30 engaging the top and bottom surfaces of the top flanges of the base bars 12, as shown in Figure 3, whereby the guide members 29 are slidably supported for movement outwardly adjacent the edges of the top flanges of the base bars. Secured to therearwardly extending arms 22 of the carriage member 19 are plate members 32 which are supported by the top flanges of the top bars 18, as by rollers 33, 33 projecting inwardly therefrom above and below the top flanges of the top bars 13, as well as by the rollers 20, 20 associated with the arms 22. The plate members 32 are in vertical alignment with the respective guide members 29, and journaled thereto are respective vertical shafts 34, 34 on which are mounted the contoured vertical brushes 35, 35, as shown in Figure 3. The rotary brushes 35,35 are shaped to conform with the side contour of a transit bus or similar vehicle, so as to provide an eificient brushing action on the side walls and top corners of the bus, as will be presently described.

Secured to the rear portion of each plate member 32 is an upwardly extending vertical plate member 36, and mounted on.the top portion of each plate member 36 is an electric motor 37 whose shaft is drivingly coupled to the adjacent shaft 34, as by a sprocket chain 38 cou pling a relatively small sprocket wheel on the motor shaft to a relatively large sprocket wheel 39 on the top end of the shaft 34 adjacent to the associated motor 37.

Respective vertical shafts 40, 40 are journaled to the end portions of the top and bottom bars 18 and 12 the shafts 40 being coupled together by a transverse top shaft 41 journaled on upstanding brackets 42, 42 rigidly secured to the top shaft bearings- 43, 43, as shown in Figure 2. Bevel gears 44 on the top ends of shaft 40 meshingly engage bevel gears 45 on the ends of the transverse shaft 41. An electric motor 46.is mounted on the supporting bracket 47 secured to one of the top bars 18, and the shaft of the motor 46 is drivingly coupled to the transverse shaft 41 by a sprocket chain 48 engaged on a relatively small sprocket wheel on the motorshaft and a relatively large sprocket wheel 49 on the shaft :41.

Respective sprocket wheels 50 and 51 are secured to the top and bottom portions of the shafts 40, said sprocket wheels being received in slots 52 and 53 formed in the webs of the top and bottom bars 18 and 12, as shown in Figure 1.. At the forward ends of the top and'bottom :bars 18 and 12, additional slots Y54 and 55 are provided which receive sprocket wheels 56 and. 57 suitably journaledto the channel bars 18 and .12 as by bearings 58, .58 and 59, 59 provided on said channel bars and rotatably :receiving the end portions of the shafts of the sprocket wheels 56 and 57, as shown in Figure 5. Endless sprocket chains 59' are engaged around the top sprocket wheels 50 and 56, said chains 59 extending on opposite sides of the webs of the top channel bars 18. The sprocket chains 59' are connected to the respective plate members 32 at depending lugs 60 provided on said plate members, as shown in Figure 1. Respective sprocket chains 61 are secured at their ends to the respective guide members 29 and extend around the sprocket wheels 57 and 51 in the respective bottom bars 12, as shown in Figure 1, whereby the bottom guide members are coupled for simultaneous movement responsive to the rotation of the shafts 40, which in turn rotate simultaneously responsive to the rotation of the transverse shaft 41. The carriage member 19 is moved simultaneously with the guide members 29 because of the movement of the endless belt 59 resulting from the simultaneous rotation of the vertical shafts 40. Thus, when the motor 46 is energized, causing rotation of the transverse top shaft 41, the side brushes 35 and the transverse top brush 24 move simultaneously toward the forward ends of the frame bars 18 and 12.

Suitable control means is provided so that the motors 37 and 25 may be simultaneously energized so that the brushes 35 and 24 are rotated simultaneously with their advancing movement.

Designated at 62, 62 are respective upstanding, channel-shaped side bars which are slidably mounted on the top bars 18 and on the bottom bars 12 outwardly adjacent thereto. As shown in Figure 5, the side bars 62 are provided with rollers 63, 63 respectively engaging the top and bottom flanges of the top bars 18 and with rollers 64 engaging the top flanges of the bottom bars 12, whereby the side bars 62 are supported for sliding movement along said top and bottom bars. The side bars 62 are spanned by a transversely extending frame 65 having the respective V-shaped bracket members 66, 66 secured thereto inwardly adjacent the respective side bars 62, 62 to which is journaled a transverse shaft 67 carrying a concave, contoured rotary brush 68 shaped to conform with the contour of the rear wall of a transit bus 16 or similar vehicle, as shown in Figure 5. An electric motor 69 mounted on the frame 65 has its shaft drivingly coupled to shaft 67, as by a sprocket chain 70 engaging on a relatively small sprocket wheel carried on the motor shaft and awrelatively large sprocket wheel 71 mounted on shaft The top and bottom arms 73 and 74 of the frame 65 are provided with respective pairs of rollers 75, 75 and 76, 76 between which are received the forward flanges of the channel-shaped side bars 62, as shown in Figure 6. Secured to the top ends of the side bars 62 are brackets 77, 77 in which is journaled a transverse shaft 78. A bracket member 80 is secured to one of the side bars 62. Mounted on the bracket member 80 is an electric motor 81 whose shaft is connected through a gear reduction unit 82 to an output shaft 83. A sprocket chain 84 engages on a relatively small sprocket wheel on output shaft 83 and on a relatively large sprocket wheel 85 on the shaft 78, drivingly coupling output shaft 83 to said shaft 78.

Journaled to the lower ends of the side bars 62 are respective sprocket wheels 86, 86. Similar sprocket wheels 87, 87 are provided on the ends of the shaft 78 above the sprocket wheels 86, 86. Sprocket chains 89 engage over the sprocket wheels 78 and 86 associated with the associated side bars 62 and are connected to the respect ve arms 73 and 74, as shown in Figure 1, whereby the frame 65 is moved up or down responsive to the energizanon of motor 81 to rotate shaft 83 either in one direction or the other. The motor 81 may be of a reversible type so that its driving direction may be reversed, or alternatively, the gear reduction unit 82 may be provided with conventional reversing means so that the direction of rotation of the shaft 83 maybe reversed if so desired.

As will be readily apparent, the motors 81 and 69 may be controlled in any suitable manner to operate simultaneously with the previously mentioned motors 25, 46 and 37, to provide simultaneous rotation of the brushes 35, 45, 68 and 24, as well as simultaneous movement of the brushes 35, 35, 24 and 68 along the surfaces of a transit vehicle 16 positioned within the framework of the apparatus, as illustrated in dotted view in Figure 1.

As will be readily apparent, brushes 24 and 35 move rearwardly along the top and side surfaces of the vehicle, the brush 68 may be operated to move downwardly along the rear wall surface of the vehicle, providing a simultaneous scrubbing action on all of the vehicle major surfaces, water, mixed with suitable detergent material, being simultaneously sprayed on the vehicle surfaces by any suitable means, not shown.

The side bars 62, 62 are yieldably restrained against excessive movement toward the ends of the top and bottom bars 18 and 12 by the provision of yieldable stop rods 90 and 91 mounted respectively on the top portions of the ends of the longitudinal top and bottom bars 13 and 12. The yieldable stop bars 90 and 91 are mounted in suitable upstanding apertured bracket plates 92 and 9.3 secured on the ends of the top and bottom bars 18 and 12, suitable coil springs 94 and 95 surrounding the rods and being disposed between the upstanding apertured bracket plates 92, 93 and collars 95 secured on the rods.

The rods 90 and 91 are generally L-shaped, having transversely extending end portions engageable with the side bars 62, 62 to cushion and restrain movements of the side bars 62 toward the ends of the top and bottom bars 18 and 12.

The side bars 62 are further provided with bumper springs 96 and 97 at their upper and lower portions engageable with similar bumper springs 98 and 99 provided on the carriage arms 21 and on the guide members 29, to cushion any movements of the carriage member 19 and the guide members 29 toward the side bars 62 when carriage member 19 and the guide members 29 approach said side bars. However, the cushioning action of the bumpers 96, 98 and 97, 99 is sufficiently yieldable to allow the brushes 24 and 35 to cover substantially the entire top and side surfaces of the vehicle 16 as said brushes 24 and 35 are moved forwardly toward the side bars 62. The yieldable stop bars 90 and 91 are sufficiently yieldable to allow the side bars 62 to angle as the rear rotary brush 68 descends along the sloping contour of the rear wall of the transit vehicle, allowing said side bars 62 to angle in conformity with different slope angles, as encountered on various transit vehicles.

While a specific embodiment of an improved washing apparatus for a transit vehicle has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a washing apparatus for a transit vehicle having a roof, a rear end wall, and substantially vertical side walls, a frame comprising a pair of parallel longitudinal base bars spaced to receive the transit vehicle therebetween, a pair of parallel top bars spaced vertically above and parallel to said base bars, carriage means slidably supported on said top bars, a first transverse brush rotatably mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage the roof of the vehicle, a motor on said carriage means drivingly connected to said brush, respective guide members slidably engaged with said base bars beneath said carriage means, vertical shafts journaled in said carriage means and said guide members, vertical brushes mounted on said shafts and adapted to engage the vehicle side walls, motor means on the carriage means drivingly connected to said vertical shafts, means formed and arranged to simultaneously move said carriage means and guide members longitudinally on said bars, whereby to move said transverse brush along the vehicle roof and the vertical brushes along the vehicle side walls, respec tive upstanding side bars mounted on the end portions of the first named bars, carriage means on said upstanding side bars, a second transverse brush rotatably mounted on said last named carriage means and adapted to engage the vehicle rear end wall, motor means on said last named carriage means drivingly connected to said second transverse brush, and means formed and arranged to raise and lower said last named carriage means on said side bars, whereby to move said second transverse brush along said rear end wall.

2. In a washing apparatus for a transit vehicle having a roof, a rear end wall, and substantially vertical side walls, a frame comprising a pair of parallel longitudinal base bars spaced to receive the transit vehicle therebetween, a pair of parallel top bars spaced vertically above and parallel to said base bars, carriage means slidably supported on said top bars, a first transverse brush rotatably mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage the roof of the vehicle, a motor on said carriage means drivingly connected to said brush, respective guide members slidably engaged with said base bars beneath said carriage means, vertical shafts journaled in said carriage means and said guide members, vertical brushes mounted on said shafts and adapted to engage the vehicle side walls, motor means on the carriage means drivingly connected to said vertical shafts, means formed and arranged to simultaneously move said carriage means and guide member longitudinally on said bars, whereby to move said transverse brush along the vehicle roof and the vertical brushes along the vehicle side walls, respective upstanding side bars slidably and yieldably mounted on an end portion of the first named bars, carriage means on said upstanding side bars, a second transverse brush rotatably mounted on said last named carriage means and adapted to engage the vehicle rear end wall, motor means on said last named carriage means drivingly connected to said second transverse brush, means formed and arranged to raise and lower said last named carriage means on said side bars, whereby to move said second transverse brush along said rear end wall, and yieldable stop means on the end portions of said top and bottom bars adjacent said side bars and being engageable with i said side bars to limit movement of said side bars toward said end portions.

3. In a washing apparatus for a transit vehicle having a roof, a rear end wall, and substantially vertical side Walls, a frame comprising a pair of parallel longitudinal base bars spaced to receive the transit vehicle therebetween, 2. pair of parallel top bars spaced vertically above and parallel to said base bars, carriage means slidably supported on said top bars, a first transverse brush rotatably mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage the roof of the vehicle, a motor on said carriage means drivingly connected to said brush, respective guide members slidably engaged with said base bars beneath said carriage means, vertical shafts journaled in said carriage means and said guide members, vertical brushes mounted on said shafts and adapted to engage the vehicle side walls, motor means on the carriage means drivingly connected to said vertical shafts, respective flexible belts movably mounted longitudinally on said side bars substantially coextensively therewith and being drivingly coupled to said vertical shafts, means connecting said belts to said carriage means and to said guide members whereby to simultaneously move said carriage means and guide members longitudinally on said bars, whereby to move said transverse brush along the vehicle roof and the vertical brushes along the vehicle side walls, respective upstanding side bars slidably and yieldably mounted on an end portion of the first named bars, carriage means on said upstanding side bars, a second transverse brush rotatably mounted on said last named carriage means and adapted to engage the vehicle rear end wall, motor means on said last named carriage means drivingly connected to said second transverse brush, flexible belt means movably mounted on said bars substantially coextensively therewith, means connecting said last named flexible belt means to said last named carriage means, motor means drivingly coupled to said last named flexible belt means to raise and lower said last named carriage means on said side bars, whereby to move said second transverse brush along said rear end wall, and yieldable stop means on the end portions of said top and bottom bars adjacent said side bars and being engageable with said side bars to limit movement of said side bars toward said end portions.

4. In a washing apparatus for a stationary transit vehicle having a roof, a rear end wall, and substantially vertical side walls, an elongated frame dimensioned to receive the transit vehicle therein, first brush means movably mounted for longitudinal movement along said frame and adapted to engage the roof and side walls of the vehicle, second movable brush means on said frame adapted to engage the vehicle rear wall, and means formed and arranged to simultaneously move said first brush means along said frame and along the roof and side walls of the vehicle and said second brush vertically on said frame means along said rear wall.

5. In a washing apparatus for a stationary transit vehicle having a roof, a rear end wall, and substantially vertical side walls, an elongated frame dimensioned to receive the transit vehicle therein, first brush means movably mounted for longitudinal movement along said frame and adapted to engage the roof and side walls of the vehicle, respective side bars movably mounted on the rear portion of the frame and connecting the top and bottom portions thereof, second brush means movably and transversely mounted on said side bars for movement therealong and adapted to engage the vehicle rear wall, and means formed and arranged to simultaneously move said first brush means longitudinally along the roof and side walls of the vehicle and said second brush means on said bars along said rear wall.

6. In a washing apparatus for a stationary transit vehicle having a roof, a rear end Wall, and substantially vertical side walls, an elongated frame dimensioned to receive the transit vehicle therein, first brush means movably mounted along said frame for longitudinal movement thereon and adapted to engage the roof and side Walls of the vehicle, respective side bars resiliently mounted on the rear portion of the frame and connecting the to pand bottom portions thereof, second brush means movably and transversely mounted on said side bars and adapted to engage the vehicle rear wall, means formed and arranged to simultaneously move said first brush means longitudinally along the roof and side walls of the vehicle and said second brush means on said side bars along said rear wall, and yieldable stop means on said side bars and said first brush means interengageable to limit movement of said first brush means toward the rear end of the frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 176,655 Martin Apr. 25, 1876 992,905 Robinson May 23, 1911 2,579,866 Rousseau ..l Dec. 25, 1951 2,610,342 Griffiths Sept. 16, 1952 2,646,586 Foutes July 28, 1953 2,692,214 Hurst s Oct. 19, 1954 2,694,274 McGibbon Nov. 16, 1954 2,703,579 Merancy et al. Mar. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 719,812 Great Britain Dec. 8, 1954 721,450 Great Britain Jan. 5, 1955 939,736 Germany Mar. 1, 1956 

